Closed Old Habits Die Screaming

Odette hadn't felt this nervous since her first game as a Macaws beater, but just like back then, she had to push through and do what she had to do. She put one foot in front of the other, taking each step deliberately with her hands stuffed in her pockets and her hood over her face. She approached her destination: the arts center she knew Harley worked- that Harley managed. She had never been there before, but it hadn't been hard to figure out the address by asking around a bit. Was it a little cowardly to approach Harley at her work like this? Perhaps. Definitely. But Odette knew it would be easier that way. Harley couldn't run away and she couldn't curse her out or yell at her if things went south, and Odette could just leave if she felt like it. It was perhaps a bit unfair, but it was practical. She felt like she deserved an easy out. She was the one reaching out, after all.

Stepping into the center, Odette pushed her hood back and ran her fingers through her hair , shaking it out. There was a chance she'd be recognized, but she somehow didn't think most of the people here were big Quidditch enthusiasts. She looked around, taking it all in for a moment. A large variety of art was on display or actively being worked on, it was a little overwhelming. She saw a lot of young people hanging out, enjoying themselves while creating art. She immediately felt a sense of pride as she thought of Harley keeping this place running and helping these kids. Who would have thought, back in the day? Odette would've been first to say Harley likely would end up in jail or something. She scanned the area and felt her heart speed up when she spotted Harley's familiar blonde head, bent over a desk where she was helping a teenager with their drawing. Odette moved a little closer, then waited for the other woman to notice her, shuffling her feet a little awkwardly as she waited.

Manager was one of the last jobs Harley had seen herself winding up in, but when she had been offered the promotion a few years ago she had taken it without a second thought. There was something special; something life changing about offering the arts to people who had never had access before - people who yearned to create and only needed the outlet. With a lot of hard work Harley had gotten the centre working like a well-oiled machine, classes and open sessions filling the days, keeping the space busy and cheerful, and it was hard to think of a day recently that she hadn't looked forward to work.

She had just finished up a class, some of the kids sticking around to keep working on their projects as she packed down. She paused by one of the desks and leaned over after a moment, smiling. "I really like this section." She said gently, indicating a particularly soft area of shading. "Try carrying that same technique further down, to make it cohesive." Stepping back after a short exchange, Harley turned to carry on cleaning up when she spotted the last person she'd ever expected to see in this place, brain briefly short-circuting as she tried to process the sight of Odette here, in her workplace. After a moment she moved over, giving an uncertain smile. "What's up?" She asked, so far from knowing what to expect from this encounter.

Odette stood with her arms crossed as Harley noticed her and tugged on her sleeves a bit uncomfortably as she approached. She shrugged. "Maybe I just wanted to see this place." She said, sounding defensive even though she tried not to. She grimaced. "Maybe I wanted to see you." She added, attempting to sound more sincere but fully aware it still came out as a challenge. "I mean- can we talk?"

Ainsley was having a lovely day reading a nice book

Wanted to see you... The words sat uncomfortably in Harley, in the same way she never knew how to take anything Odette said. She sounded almost defiant, as if she were breaking some boundary Harley had been the one to set. Which - admittedly, work was certainly never a place she had expected to see Odette, but it wasn't a specific boundary she had set... that she could remember. She nodded when Odette asked to talk, still feeling almost light-headed as she set down the pile of unused papers she had been carrying, making a mental note to finish cleaning up later. "Sure, just down here." She said, leading Odette deeper into the building.

Harley's office (office?!) was one of her favourite places in the world, though it had taken a lot of work to get it there. The walls were completely covered in murals she had spent weeks working on, and every scrap of furniture in the room had been doodled or painted on; barbed wire patterns on the filing cabinets, a collection of roses on the side of the bookcase, spiderwebs "expertly" painted by her nieces all over the desk's legs. She gestured for Odette to take a seat and took one next to her, unable to even consider sitting across the desk from Odette... that would be a bridge too far. "What's up?" She asked, doing her best to sound as light and casual as ever.

Odette looked around as she followed Harley to her office. She saw gazes following them and figured there would be a lot of speculation among the kids about her and Harley. It was kind of funny. She let out a low whistle as Harley showed her into her office. "You really are a big deal around here." She said quietly, taking in the room. "And you really made this place yours." She said fondly. Odette sighed, hesitating a moment before sitting down. "I was going to apologize. I said some crappy stuff." She muttered. "Actually, I always say crappy stuff, so you're probably used to it by now. But- I'm sorry." There was, of course, more she wantd to say. But Odette had to work up to it before she could admit it out loud.